Staff support



June 21 1927.

1,632,965 H. s. HAYS sun SUPPOR'I" Filed Oct. 6, 1924 Attorney.

Patented June 21, 1927.

:UNITEDQZSTATES HARVEY G; HAYS, OF COLUMBUS OHIO.

STAFF sunrom'l I Application fil ed October 6, 1924. serial No. 741, 846.

' I My invention relates to a staff support and has to'do particularly with the provision of a simple means for supporting a staff, or pole, at any desired location in the ground or other suitable surface whereby the staff or su pport,for both, may be placed or removed at will. i

Occasions arise when it becomes desirable to decorate a city, or portions of a city, particularly "a residential section, and ofttimes the display of flags is particularly appropriate Such decoration or. display of flags, however, is diflicult',fespecially in a residential section of a city because ofQthe lack of any means for properly supporting a flag.

To display the desired decorations or flags, it has been necessary to mutilate the home by fastening such decorations thereto, or to mutilate the lawn or other surface around the home by driving poles therein for suppo'rtingthe decorations or flags.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision ofa simple and inexpensive means, whereby decorations such as flags and the like may be quickly and easily displayed, on proper occasions, on the lawn or other surface about the home, without mutilating or causing a permanent fracture to the lawn or other surface, and whereby such decorations maybe easily removed after' use. 1

Another object of my invention is the provision of a staff support which may be inserted into the ground at any desired location, and'which will support a'stafl' While so inserted into the ground, and which may be removed when it is desired to take down the decorations.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a support which will prevent the staff support from assuming an angular -position relative to the ground because of a lateral strain thereon.

Another object ofv my invention is the provision of a support which will automatically tend toassume avertical position upon being inserted into the groundp i I d I A further object of my invention "is the provision of a spear memberradaptedto be inserted into the ground, and which Will not cause a permanent fracture to the ground when removedtherefrom; v

Afurther object of'my invention isthe provisionof a support having a member adapted tbbe' pressed against'the surface of the ground, which member is of open construction, and willnotfdestroy or kill the grassthereunder, when such support is in} serted into the ground. 1

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a support which may be easily and quickly loosened in the ground without fracturmg the ground, prior to removal inserted into the ground, and showing the member adapted to rest upon the surface of the ground. Figure 2 is a plan view, showing the open construction of the member which is'ada'pted to rest upon the surfaceof the ground.

' Figure 3 is an enlarged section of the spear member of my staff support, taken on line 33 of Figure 1. j i f In the drawings, and referring particu larly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the spear member of my support is designated by the reference numeral 1. This spear member is tapered throughout its length, and terminates in a point 2. The spear member is provided with three outstanding vanes 3, extending throughout its length, as is shown in Figure 3. y I

Extending oppositely from the spear member 1, and preferably integral therewith, is a socket member 4. The member t is designed. for erecepti'on of a'staff 5.";It is'to be understood that the socket member may not be formed integral with the spear member, but may have a detachable connection therewith. The socket and spear members maybe provided withscrewthreads, where by sockets of various sizes may be used to accommodate poles of varioussiz'es'. i p .Encircling the members land 4, as shown 6 is rigidly associated with the members 1 strength to the association of ;the.ring 6 with the members 1 and 4. The member 6 is designed to be pressed against the'surfa'ce of the ground when the socket is in use. This member is of open constructionhavmg open places 9. In thus providing the member 6 of open construction, the area of ground against which the member is pressed is-reduced to a minimum,thereby reducing to a minimum the grass-which may be mutilated or destroyed by thememb'er pressing against thegrass. I V p A The WingsS extending from the braces 7 g to the socket fl, and which provide for a rigid and strong connection, between the ring member 6 and the spear and, socketmember, additionally provide surfaces against which pressure may be brought, for loosening the spear in the ground prior to removal therefrom. In removing the soc'ket from the grounchone may strike the side Iof one of the members8 With a hammer .orio'ther suitable device, or may kick themember with his heel, thereby causing a slight rotation of the support as a Whole, and the spear member Withinthe ground. The spear member is thus loosened, and its remoyal. from the ground can be easilyand quickly [accomplished without causing a perinanentffr'acture to the ground and Without pulling any of the sod out of place. i In use, my support in I be inserted into the ground in any desired location, such as in thelawn around a residence. The spear is inserted 'into the g 'roun'd, untilthe-ring member comes into contact with the surface of the ground, The staff of theflag or other decoration, is placed Within, the socket 4,1'eind allowed to remain as long .as,desired. Should. a lateral strain come against the staff, the member 6'Will press againstth'e surface of the ground,and the spear member 1 Will press laterally, throughout its'length, against the ground surrounding the same. Thus the two members 6 and 1 cooperate in maintaining the staff in upriglltposition.

lVhen it is desired toremovethe decoration, the staff 5 mayhberemoved from the socket allowing the support torerh'ain, or the staff and supportfinay bot-hb'e removed Furthermore, in'the use of my device, the action. against the surface'of the grouiid of the member ,6 in my preferred form, and the members 12 of myfmodified form, is such as to' straighten 'the support upon insertioncinto the ground, and cause] the socket, and stall therein to assume a vertical position. Thus, 1 should the spear member be inserted into the ground at an angle,'the surface contacting member, upon coming into contact with the surface of the ground, will cause the support to tendto assume an upright position.

I hav'efprovidedla staff support having a spear member adapted for insertion into the Y ground, which member is so designed that the insertion of themember into the ground and its removal therefrom, will not cause akp'erfiianent fracture to the round. This is accomplished by roviding t e spear memher with longitu inally extending vanes.

When the spear memberis removed from the ground, there appears in the ground slots made by the vanes, which slots quicklycome together whereby the ground readily assumesi'ts original andunmarred surface.

It is important to so design the spear member so that the sod or ground iini'nd diately surrounding the memher, will [not cling to the member, when the mefmb'eris withdrawn from the ground, whereby a per:

manent fracture to the surface of the ground would result, Thismay be accomplished providing the angles betweeh the vanes fof sufficient 'size, so as to eliminate the poss bility of the sod or ground from be oming lodged in the angle. In addition, th'e'angles maybe provided, if de sired, yvith,round ed apexes, which would further assist in'elii inating the possibility of sod or ground from becoming lodged in the angle.

'1 have described'my device as being as port for staffs, particularly in connection w th the 'supportingof flags, or other decorat'ions. It will be understooi hovvever, that my device is not to bellmited to such use,

bu wai m y b u "fe supr' rt e 'st' fi or polesfonva-rious purposes such as sup,- P'Q t P le 2 J tand rds. in ,t p' 'a y O'r n 1 r e uch s a waysnr jfojotpaths, or for the'fuppjo'rt [of standards for athletic purpqsesafr ldtlie like.

Having thus described my invention, I claim;

1. In 'ajstaif gasp-ea, ,a spear raipaa 131 Y rt e j i e th "gr mtl; T m r ed to receive ,aj sta'fi, andpn open constructed member attached to said socket andspaced therefrom for contact with the surfacefo'f the ground, said1memberdservingto causethe support to tend to assume an upright posi tion upon insertion into the ground.

2. 'Ina staff support, ajspear adapted for insertion into the ground, a sockt adapted toreceive a staff, andlan op i constructed member attached 1 to said socket of greater circumference than the base. of said socket for ,contacting w th the "surface of Qthe ground, said, member serving, to cause the support totendto assumean up'rightposition 'upon insert-ion into theground.

3. In a -staff sup '0rt,a.taperedspear proyided with outWa-r 1y extendingvanesadapted for insertion into the ground, asocket for holding a staff, said socket extending oppoet, for supporting said ring, said braces sitely from said spear, an open constructed serving as means for loosening said spear ring of greater circumference than the base prior to the removal thereof from the 10 of said socket formed centrally of said spear ground.

and socket, and adapted to rest upon the In testimony whereof I hereby afiiX my surface of the ground, and outstanding signature.

braces extending from said ring to said sock- HARVEY G. HAYS. 

